Clay-Chalkville hosts Parker in Friday spring game

CLAY — Clay-Chalkville welcomes Parker to Cougar Stadium on Friday for the teams’ spring football game.

The game begins at 6 p.m.

Parker was 8-4 last year and will be in Class 5A, Region 5 this year. Clay-Chalkville was 10-2 last year and will be in Class 6A, Region 6 this year.

The varsity players will play the first half of Friday’s game. Younger players will play the second half. Kicking will be simulated.

Clay-Chalkville offensive linemen Johnathan Butterworth (78) and Justin Daniel (74) block for running back Terrelle West (12) in a game at Pinson Valley last season.file photo by Ron Burkett

Clay-Chalkville head football coach Jerry Hood said coaches will be looking mainly to see if players are improving, to see how aggressive they’ll be.

Hood said the focuses this spring are on a quarterback competition and the offensive line. Rising juniors Darryien Wilson and Tyrell Pigrome are competing to replace Hayden Moore at quarterback, now at Cincinnati.

Wilson played quarterback in two games last season, completing all 12 of his passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed nine times for 14 yards. Pigrome played quarterback in one game, and he completed all five of his passes for 81 yards and a score. He rushed five times for 68 yards and a touchdown.

“They’re getting better,” Hood said.

Hood said some offensive linemen need to be replaced off last year’s team. Rising senior Johnathan Butterworth has been the most impressive of the group this spring, Hood said. Rising seniors Justin Daniel and Tyon Hardy have also stood out on the offensive line.

On defense, nine starters will be back for a unit that allowed 21 points per game last season. Hood said he hopes that many returning starters equals a solid season.

“We’re trying to fine-tune that,” he said.

Rising senior running back Terrelle West is one of the top players at his position in the state, with offers from Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Arkansas State and others. Rising junior wide receiver T.J. Simmons has offers from Cincinnati, Southern Mississippi, Western Kentucky and South Alabama.

Defensively, rising senior defensive end Kendell Jones has had a good spring. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has scholarship offers from Louisville, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Cincinnati, Southern Mississippi, Western Kentucky, South Alabama and Troy.